Directive No. 22/2004/CT-TTg on continuing to prevent and control avian influenza and quickly restore and develop poultry farming production

DIRECTIVE

On continuing to prevent and control avian influenza and quickly restore and develop poultry production

Since the announcement that avian influenza had been eradicated nationwide, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities have continued to direct the implementation of disease surveillance measures, control of poultry breeding flocks, diagnosis, testing, quarantine during transportation, and slaughter of poultry, thereby largely containing the disease and preventing its recurrence. However, in some localities, there has been a lack of vigilance and laxity in directing the prevention and control of avian influenza as stipulated in Decision No. 396/QĐ-TTg dated April 20, 2004 of the Prime Minister. In some places, sick and dead poultry have been discovered, including blood samples from breeding facilities that tested positive for avian influenza virus, which poses a potential risk of disease recurrence. To continue to proactively manage disease prevention and control work and quickly restore and develop poultry production, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities must continue to direct the work on preventing and controlling avian influenza. Localities should actively inspect and supervise the use of funds allocated under Decision No. 396/QĐ-TTg dated April 20, 2004 of the Prime Minister regarding financial support for preventing and controlling avian influenza and restoring production after the epidemic, including support for the destruction of poultry in areas where sick and dead poultry were found. Directives should be issued to immediately contain the disease at the outset, and if an outbreak occurs, it must be isolated and controlled promptly to prevent recurrence.

2. For regions that previously experienced outbreaks and those with potential risks of disease, strict disease control measures must continue to be applied such as thorough disinfection and sterilization of all premises, manure, and sites of destruction. Guide breeding facilities and households to only resume breeding when hygiene conditions and specified times have been met; if sick or dead poultry are detected, they must report to veterinary authorities and carry out destruction according to their guidance.

3. Localities must direct and inspect the provision of financial support from the state budget for restoring and developing poultry production in their areas. Support must be provided to the correct recipients and for the intended purposes; first, funds for breeding stock must directly reach poultry farmers who suffered losses due to the epidemic so they can quickly restore their flocks. Direct state-owned breeding enterprises to expand rapid breeding, including importing healthy breeds, and create conditions for organizations and individuals to breed poultry rapidly, ensuring sufficient quality breeding stock at reasonable prices without price hikes due to speculation.

4. Breeding facilities that have received state support for protecting and restoring breeding stocks must plan production, expand breeding activities, ensure adequate supply of high-quality, disease-free breeding stock at appropriate prices, and take responsibility for the quality of the stock when marketed.

5. Imported poultry breeds must undergo veterinary quarantine in accordance with current regulations.

6. Quarantine during transportation, slaughter, and trade of poultry and poultry products, especially transport out of infected areas and regions with potential disease risks, must comply with existing veterinary laws, avoiding unnecessary hindrances to transportation.

7. The Ministry of Culture and Information and mass media agencies must cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct timely and accurate reporting on the disease situation so that the public can proactively prevent and control the disease and use products appropriately, avoiding panic that could harm poultry production, while aligning with international economic integration processes.

7. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with mass media agencies, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct the timely and accurate dissemination of information on disease outbreaks so that the public can be informed, take proactive measures to prevent and control diseases, and use products appropriately, without causing panic that would result in losses to poultry farming production, in accordance with the process of international economic integration.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for monitoring and reporting to the Prime Minister the results of the implementation of this Directive.